HYDROCARBON CHARACTERIZATION AND PROSPECT IDENTIFICATION OF YZ FIELD, NIGER DELTA

HYDROCARBON CHARACTERIZATION AND PROSPECT IDENTIFICATION OF YZ FIELD, NIGER DELTA

Introduction

The YZ field is located within the Niger Delta Basin, onshore Niger Delta Nigeria (Figure 1.1). Major focus in recent time, in hydrocarbon exploration has been moved towards the renewal of older fields and the identification of new prospects from these old fields (Emina et al, 2016). Recent studies in the Niger Delta, has shown that reservoirs in this basin contain a number of undiscovered hydrocarbons in the Tertiary Niger Delta (Akata-Agbada) Petroleum System is about 40.5 billion barrels of oil and 133 trillion cubic feet of gas (Michele et al, 1999). This means a large amount of hydrocarbon reserves is yet to be explored which gives room to explore for hydrocarbon perspectivity. Considering the never-ending global demand for energy, the high cost of production and the interconnected risks, identification of new prospect/renewal of older fields is much cheaper and less risky than exploring in frontier/unknown basins (Emina et al, 2016).

The major goal of hydrocarbon exploration is to establish suitable reservoir formations with commercial accumulation and therefore characterize and evaluate the reservoir very accurately in order to determine most effective way of recovering as much of the resource as possible.

Reservoir characterization is a method that involves quantitative evaluation of reservoir characteristics like facies distribution, porosity, permeability, and fluid saturations (Journel, 1995). This information is crucial for quantifying the amount of producible hydrocarbon that can be extracted from the reservoir (Schlumberger, 1989). For assessing the hydrocarbon potential of rock formations, well log data offer trustworthy downhole geological information (Asquith and Gibson, 1982). The generated information has been proven to reduce risk associated with hydrocarbon exploration (Schlumberger, 1989). Reservoir characterization technology involves the integration of all accessible subsurface data such as core data, check shot, well logs and seismic data. These data sets are a product of measurements carried out by enhanced instrumentations processed and interpreted using advanced software.

In this study, 3D migrated seismic and well logs was used to evaluate relevant reservoir petrophysical properties to characterize YZ field located onshore Niger Delta, Southern Nigeria to prospect for further hydrocarbon accumulations within the field. The analysis determined the lithologic distribution across the field's available wells, both vertically and laterally. To identify potential fluid bearing formations, discriminate formation fluids, determine the degree of saturation of the different fluids in the reservoirs and also to delineate other prospects yet explored in this field.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Several oil companies and investors have recently began shifting focus to the rejuvenation of older field and the discerning of new prospects from these fields in order to avoid spending unnecessarily on green or frontier basins due to insufficient geological information (Emina et al, 2016).

Likewise, indigenous companies have been involved in developing marginal fields and the search for additional prospects is pertinent in developing and expanding their profitability of the fields. Detailed analysis of the field by integrating available 3D seismic and well logs will help in appraising the tested prospect and identify new prospect for field development. This will avoid the drilling of dry hydrocarbon wells due to false prospecting or just mere guess work and losing millions of dollars due to the expenses involved in drilling of hydrocarbon wells. Therefore, this thesis is aimed at carrying out adequate integration of 3D seismic and well log analysis in identifying possible hydrocarbon prospects in YZ field and appraise its viability for further development.

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